FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 22, 2013
( BROCKVILLE ) – Ontario ’s manufacturers have seen better days, but Leeds-Grenville MPP Steve Clark insists we can turn the sector’s fortunes around, create new industrial jobs and build a brighter future for the province.
Backgrounder – Manufacturing White Paper – Paths to Prosperity
Clark made the comments in the wake of the release of the Ontario PC Caucus’ latest white paper: Paths to Prosperity: Advanced Manufacturing for a Better Ontario. The discussion paper proposes several initiatives designed to revive Ontario ’s manufacturing sector and create up to 300,000 new jobs.
“ Ontario has always been a province that built products for the world. Our work ethic and innovation helped make our province the economic engine that pulled Canada along,” said Clark . “But under the McGuinty-Wynne government, we’ve shed 300,000 manufacturing jobs thanks to policies that have made it impossible for too many industries to compete.”
Clark said the effort to rebuild Ontario ’s manufacturing base and create the good-paying jobs the sector supports, starts with having a government committed to implementing policies to give companies an edge in the increasingly competitive global marketplace.
Among the proposals outlined in the white paper are:
Establishing a new, affordable power rate for manufacturing and resources-based industry at prices competitive with neighbouring jurisdictions.
Matching provincial retraining assistance to the needs of employers and the job market.
Making investments in new plants and equipment fully tax deductible to improve productivity and create new jobs.
Aggressively pushing for more international and interprovincial free trade to open new markets for Ontario business.
“Soaring energy costs and the endless red tape resulting from new regulations are just some of the job-killing policy decisions the Liberal government has made over the past decade,” explained Clark . “I’ve raised these issues on behalf of manufacturers in Leeds-Grenville time and again at Queen’s Park, but we’re continuing down the same path that’s made it so difficult for our industries to compete. It’s time to choose a new path.”
Clark said he’s proud of the ideas put forward in the latest PC white paper and he’s eager to hear feedback from Leeds-Grenville business and industry leaders, workers, economic development officials and Chambers of Commerce.
“I’ve met with investors, plant managers and employees from across the riding who want to be part of the solution and I know we’ve got some great success stories in Leeds-Grenville to build on,” stressed Clark .
“But we need to get on with the job. And I believe our white paper outlines a strategy to help us turn the corner and start creating new manufacturing jobs in Eastern Ontario and right across the province.”
To read the complete white paper Paths to Prosperity: Advanced Manufacturing for a Better Ontario, visit http://ontariopc.com/paths/ .
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